Vincent 1955 Black Prince 998 cc 2 cyl OHV 3603

Vincent 1955 ‘Black Prince’ 998 cc OHV V-twin frame # RD 12935 engine # :F10/AB/2/11035

Ever since the Series A’s arrival in 1937, the Vincent v-twin had been synonymous with design innovation, engineering excellence and superlative high performance. It was to be the Vincent that would usher the company into a bold new future, a ‘two-wheeled Bentley,’ in the words of Philip Vincent, who considered the design his best work. Its flowing, all-enclosing bodywork would set new standards of refinement, allowing riders to commute to work in a crisp business suit, not leathers or nasty old waxed cotton. The enclosed Vincents got a lot of attention at the 1954 Earls Court show. The main change was innovative full enclosure and weather protection, with glass fibre panels that included leg shields and a handlebar fairing. Other Series-D innovations included a new frame and rear suspension, a user-friendly centre stand, plus many improvements to the peerless v-twin engine, including a new battery and coil ignition system for easier starting.
It had been Philip Vincent’s belief that provision of ample weather protection combined with enclosure of engine and gearbox, would make the Vincent Series-D the ultimate ‘gentleman’s motorcycle’, though delayed delivery of the glass fibre panels – plus continuing demand for traditionally-styled models – resulted in over half the production leaving the Stevenage factory in un-enclosed form. The enclosed Rapide and Black Shadow were known as Black Knight and Black Prince respectively. The Black Prince was the most powerful model in the range; her 84 x 90 bore x stroke engine delivered 55 hp @ 5700 rpm, 10 hp more than the Black Knight. Targeted top speed was 125 mph; the built-in Smiths speedo could register up to 150 mph.
Care was taken to ensure that the engines were still easily accessible for general maintenance and the rear enclosure was hinged providing access to the rear wheel and drive chain. Full fairing protection has quite a few advantages; it shields the rider from wind and rain, gives more long-distance touring comfort with lower petrol consumption, makes cleaning easier and gives cooler running of the engine, because with the Black Knight and Black Prince the leg shields act as air ducts.
In September 1955, when it was revealed that production of the Stevenage-built machines would cease, the news stunned the motorcycling world. It had been decided that the firm’s future lay in more profitable lines of manufacture, and just 100 more of the fabulous v-twins would be completed. By the time its demise was announced, Vincent’s final twin – the Series-D – had been in production for just six months. When production finally ceased in December 1955, around 460 Series-D v-twins had been built, some 200 of which were enclosed models, about a hundred of these being Black Princes.
The machine on offer has matching frame and engine numbers and has been finely restored. She was first registered on October 29, 1955 and spent quite a few years in the Glasgow area, where, according to a note on file, she was sold to a Mr. Staples for the pricey sum of £95, her purchase price in 1955 having been around an astounding £400. In 2018 she was purchased by a Dutch enthousiast and she’s been part of his private collection since. A Dutch road registration has been acquired and a specialist has fitted a practical electric starter. This stunning and rare Black Prince comes with a set of matching fiberglass panniers and old logbook and V5 documents. For a ride out, fly by and tech talk on a Black Prince see: